Aug 19 1963

From The Space Library

House Committee on Appropriations' Subcommittee on Independent Offices began hearings on NASA appropriations for FY 1964. NASA Administrator James E. Webb said in opening statement before the executive meeting "I urge that your Committee approve the total amount of appropriations authorized. I should like to point out that even if the full amount requested by the President were authorized and appropriated, we face in these funds and in the plants of the contractors a similar situation to that with our own Centers where they requested 2,000 more people than we were able to approve under the budget restriction. In our manned space pro­gram we will be short between one hundred and two hundred million dollars out of the three billion dollars requested by the President. We are prepared to operate with a tight belt, we are prepared to operate without contingencies. However, I do want to point out to the Committee that we are still going to have a serious problem if we encounter any major difficulties In the form of a catastrophe on the launching pad or with a test station. "I should also like to say to the Committee that after the Authorization Bill has been enacted and after the Appropriations Bill has been passed, we are going to prepare an over-all operat­ing plan. We plan to show it to both the House and Senate Space Committees and we will be happy to show it to the Appropriations Committees. With this re-examination and the basis or committing the funds actually appropriated, we will be in a position where we will know what our situation is and whether we will have to ask for a supplemental appropriation . . . ." (Testimony, NASA Leg. Act. Rpt. II/128) )

Under questioning by the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Independent Offices, NASA Deputy Administrator Dr. Hugh L. Dryden discussed the future space programs to follow the manned lunar landing program "There are three principal candidates for what might be called the next program. These are the manned orbital laboratory; the further exploration of the moon; and finally, man's interplane­tary travel. "One difficulty is the definition. MERCURY is a one-man orbital laboratory; GEMINI is a two-man orbital laboratory; APOLLO is a three-man orbital laboratory; and all will stay up for the dura­tion of the trip to the moon. "If you are going further, you come to a question, Do you want something for 3 men, 6 men, 12 men, or 20 men? "One of our problems is to define the requirements and both the Department of Defense and ourselves are making studies. We have agreed there should be only one project for the time being because this will be a 2 or 3 billion project. We have agreed we will not proceed unilaterally. A decision, of course, has to be made as to what, if anything, in the 1965 budget will be in this field or another . . . . "As to the further exploration of the moon, the definition is a very variable one. You might leave an astronaut out and, figuratively speaking, take camping equipment along for a few days. Or you might convert a whole lunar bug to a freight car­rier to extend the length of stay. You can go from that to a lunar base where you try to build a station, as in the Antarctic, that. man can occupy for sometime . . . . "All of these things run into the billions of dollars and cer­tainly Congress will be involved in it. "There are people who favor one or another of these projects. I personally favor the manned orbital laboratory as being the next project. What we find on the Moon may change our minds on this, but from present knowledge I feel priority should go to a manned orbital laboratory. Some of this equipment has been in space for a period of a year or more. That is the length of a trip to Mars or Venus and back. "As you know, the matter of making major decisions of this kind in Government is a complicated one and I cannot say at this time when the hardware will be recommended by the administra­tion. One reason for saying the manned orbital laboratory has priority is the possible military application." (Hearings ... Independent Offices Appropriations for FY 1964, Part 3, 242-243)

New evidence verifying existence of long-lived solar plasma streams in interplanetary space was published in article by four MSFC scientists in Physical Review Letters. Evidence was based on data gathered by EXPLORER XII energetic particles satel­lite: On two occasions the satellite observed solar events produc­ing solar plasma streams. Indication that they were long-lived was revealed when the plasma streams caused geophysical dis­turbances more than 20 days after the streams were created. (MSFC Release G-14-63)

National Geographic Society announced two scientists with astro­nomical instruments were recently lofted by plastic-skinned bal­loon to 15-mi. altitude in experiment to record radio sounds from stars. National Geographic Society outlined other recent scientific contributions by man's oldest means of flight, including balloon-lifted telescopic camera which made unprecedented photo­graphs of sunspots and another instrumented payload which ob­tained man's clearest observations of planet Mars. Balloon-car­ried instrumentation now probing upper atmosphere is obtaining valuable data on astrophysics, meteorology, and aeromedicine. (Chic. Trib., 8/20/63)

Communications Satellite Corp. announced award of contract to Univac Div. of Sperry Rand Corp. for computer services to facili­tate ComSatCorp's comparative global satellite communications system studies. (ComSatCorp Release)

Missiles and Rockets quoted NASA spokesman on letter from Sir Bernard Lovell in which the British astronomer indicated U.S.S.R. wanted to explore possibilities of cooperating with U.S. in lunar exploration program "[The letter] . . . represents the personal impressions of a pri­vate individual on a matter of the greatest obscurity, namely the Soviet space program.... "It doesn't seem wise to give the letter any undue importance, although we were glad to get it .... "We already have a channel of communication, namely the dis­cussions between Dr. Dryden and Soviet Academician Blagon­ravov. It is reasonable to expect that channel would be used for a serious proposal." (M&R, 8/19/63, 21)

Tremendous atmospheric explosion in Kimberley Moun­tains of Western Australia was reported by observers, who saw trail of smoke and ball of orange flame and heard the explosion. Australian Weather Office spokesman said cause was unknown but suggested possibility of artificial satellite's exploding during at­mospheric re-entry. (AP, Tulsa Daily World, 8/21/63)

DOD plans for consolidation and expansion of the three U.S. missile ranges would be closely reviewed by National Aeronautics and Space Council to see if they duplicate NASA plans, Aviation Week and Space Technology reported. (Av. Wk., 8/19/63, 30-31)

Nat Welch, Federal representative on Southern Interstate Nuclear Board, suggested to Southern Governor's Conference ways to at­tract and develop nuclear and space industries in their states "Suggestion 1. Be a champion of education .... Your great­est contribution in your State is to see that educational budgets are substantially increased .... "Suggestion 2. Capitalize on the nuclear and space industries in your State. Industry begets industry . . . . `Suggestion 3. Exploit your new breakthroughs . . . [such as, for Louisiana] NASA's new Michoud plant . . . . "Suggestion 4. Build a solid legislative base now for the growth of nuclear and space industries . . . . "Suggestion 5. Work with your congressional leaders . . . "Suggestion 6. Romance your unique advantages . . . . Care­fully inventory your industrial advantages . . . . "Suggestion 7. Encourage the entrepeneur as well as the scien­tist . . . "Suggestion 8. Lend a helping hand to your existing indus­tries . . "Suggestion 9. Recognize and appreciate [achievements of industries in your State] . "Suggestion 10. Do your homework well . "Your efforts in promoting the growth of nuclear and space industries will help not only your State but the entire region . . . . "Your efforts will also substantially contribute to the attain­ment of national goals. As President Kennedy points out, if we can increase our growth rate from 3 to 5 percent a year this will substantially aid in providing employment for all of our people, in increasing Federal revenues, and in creating a more dynamic economy." (Text, CR 8/20/63, A5312-13)

On 10th anniversary of first successful Redstone missile launching, Army fired Redstone rocket at White Sands Missile Range in successful test by Redstone Field Artillery unit. (M&R, 8/26/63, 14)

USN launched Polaris A-3 from land pad at AMR in "very successful" flight test. (M&R, 8/26/63, 14)

Informants said in Cairo that Egyptian scientists were interested in obtaining a satellite tracking station from U.S. (AP, Wash.. Post, 8/20/63)

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